Recruiting Vets for Info Security Jobs
Commission and now the new director of government affairs for (ISC)2, said he has been working with (ISC)2, the Government Advisory Board and the Information Systems Security Association for more than two years on an initiative that aims to bring more veterans into federal information security jobs. "They [veterans] are particularly adept, already trained and have security clearances," he said. "That would be a golden opportunity to take advantage of."
With a deficit of information security professionals in the federal government, federal IT leaders should look to attract, recruit and retain more military veterans to fill such jobs, a government security expert said on Tuesday.
Marc Noble, former chief information security officer at the Federal Communications Commission and now the new director of government affairs for (ISC)2, said he has been working with (ISC)2, the Government Advisory Board and the Information Systems Security Association for more than two years on an initiative that aims to bring more veterans into federal information security jobs. "They [veterans] are particularly adept, already trained and have security clearances," he said. "That would be a golden opportunity to take advantage of."
The White House in November unveiled an executive order that aims to help military veterans find civilian work in the federal government. The order created program offices in most agencies to help veterans find job opportunities, move them through the application process and acclimate to civilian life after they are hired. The order also requires the Office of Personnel Management to create a strategic plan on how to boost the hiring veterans. OPM has since launched a Web site, FedsHireVets.gov, which serves as a clearinghouse for information about veterans employment for job candidates and hiring officials.
Noble said he has not yet reached out to OPM on the possibility of partnering with them on efforts to bring more veterans into federal information security jobs.
Noble said he also hopes to work with new cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt on initiatives to improve the recruitment, retention and training of the federal cybersecurity workforce. The government, for example, should better encourage information security professionals to obtain professional certifications, and improve the overall federal hiring process, he said. "We believe that workforce education is a top priority for the new administration," he said. "We feel that [Schmidt] has always had a strong impetus to develop a strong workforce that can meet the challenges of today."